We present a memory on a significant moment in the liturgical year, Holy Week, as it was lived in Forty-thirties of last century. This paper was published in issue 2006 of the journal "Studies Lunigiana", published by the Cultural Association to ethnographic and historical research on the Lunigiana "Manfredo Giuliani." The magazine, published several years, and the Ethnographic Museum in Villafranca Lunigiana play an important role for people who want to study the Lunigiana area, its history and its traditions.
Even during Lent, families get ready for the rites of the Christian Holy Week and Easter. The parish of Valdantena is somewhat uncomfortable for the distance there is between some countries and the church in spite of this participation in the Via Crucis was strongly felt, and in the evening, during the recitation of the Rosary shall not neglect to add a prayer for five wounds of Jesus and the seven sorrows of Our Lady.
Palm Sunday the pastor knocked three times on the door of the church and received it within the faithful who accompanied him to the altar with hymns of joy, cheering "Hosanna to the Son of David" and, holding olive branches . With this ceremony we wanted to recall the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. On the afternoon of Sunday after Vespers and part of Monday was reserved for confession and communion. The priest was assisted by his brothers from neighboring parishes. On Wednesday morning in the
fabbricieri prepared the "Tomb" helped too
and some women of the parish, which already during Lent in different pots were sown vetches, wheat and barley. Then let them grow in the dark, so that the plants would take an unnatural color, almost white. On either side of the Tomb placed two juniper trees decorated with lots of roses of various colors of paper. It was not full of so many precious flowers such as the present day, but always prepared with such dedication and love. On Wednesday afternoon began the rituals to which the faithful were called by the ringing of bells, not yet silenced in a sign of sadness.
the morning of Holy Thursday, many of the faithful went to Pontremoli to assist during the Chrism Mass, the consecration of the oils and the washing of feet. We went well as a building, which took custody of the precious vials with holy oils to be delivered to the pastor. According to the liturgy of the time, on Thursday began the commemoration of the crucifixion and death of Jesus as a sign of sorrow the bells were no longer hear their voices (they were related), to summon people to church was used or a large shell, blowin 'in which emitted a sound that could be heard from afar, or the "graclòn," a big frog that came to the parish and was used only during Holy Week. At about 17:30
function began with the singing of the Passion, for which the singers were divided parties. On a candlestick triangle located near the altar were lighted candles and at the end of each psalm or part of the Acts of the Apostles it was an off. Off the last one "beat Pilate," that started a lot of confusion - to underscore the condemnation of Jesus and his crucifixion - accompanied by the croaking of frogs (gracle), that many boys had built during Lent. Soon after the pastor came down from the high altar to the grave to lay the consecrated Host, which would remain there throughout the morning until late Friday and Saturday.
On Friday he had a duty to respect the ancient tradition of fasting and eating food without meat, eggs or dairy products. At noon we ate cod and vegetables seasoned with a little oil in the evening "to thin soup, made with leeks, beans, dried mushrooms and homemade noodles.
Early in the morning was to go to church for the visit to the tomb and to gain the indulgence, we went out and came to church seven times, repeating the traditional prayers. After the church service we would take off his shoes and, proceeding on his knees, he reached the altar to worship a cross given to her bare feet. On the same day some men of the parish, having worn the shirt and holding each other a cross, praying they walked along the ancient streets to visit the seven churches in the valley: Casalino, Pracchiola, Gravagna S. Bartholomew, S. Gravagna Rocco, of Antena Cavezzana, Montelungo Cargalla and - hence - again Casalina. They were called "penitents" or "flying" and their was not just a walk, to walk several kilometers. Along the road intersected with penitents of other parishes that were the opposite way.
Very moving was the feature of the evening. So many people came even from neighboring countries like the night before the singers took turns reciting the Passio. Extinguished the last candle is again "beat Pilate." Above the door of the rectory there was a large wooden pulpit, which was addressed to everyone's attention, waiting asked the preacher for the occasion. When this was the homily with the main steps of the Passion and Death of Jesus, was now getting dark and began the great procession of Good Friday, with the statues of the dead Christ and Our Lady of Sorrows. Along the route of the procession there were lights on, but they were impressive especially the lights of the houses of neighbors purposely left on. The glow of torches, the acrid smoke that they unleashed, the singing of the Miserere and other prayers in the heart they put a poignant sadness.
Holy Saturday, an old custom, the fire was lit using a tinderbox in the churchyard. Entered the church began the preparation for the blessing Holy Water, which then would have been available to the parish and the families that drew at home to bring in a sign of faith. Began immediately after the S. Mass and the Gloria, the bells rang across the valley lying. The priest removed from the tomb and reported the consecrated Host in procession on the main altar, leaving the door of the tabernacle of the open grave. Christ was risen! Who was left at home ran to the source to bathe the eyes. Already in place were sowed in pots and other qualities of the basil seeds. After dinner was the joy of the boys who had so carefully prepared special herb. This, well dried and crushed, was put together in a pot from eggs, boiled, they did a nice bright red. The wealthiest families their sons they gave about a dozen (less than the girls!), However there was no family in which the Saturday night not provide himself with the traditional egg dyeing.
On Easter Sunday, no longer passive, no more sorrow. All the altars, which were bare in the preceding days, were adorned with flowers. The tomb has been removed. It 's spring. It seems that nature also bows the exultation of the Church. The pastor wears vestments finest. The Mass was solemn.
During the day the boys playing "Cocetta" with the enemy, arguing that win tapping eggs against the other more fragile shell. After vespers was customary to go to their fields to collect the tender radicchio, which was consumed in the evening with the family as an accompaniment to boiled eggs.
Celide
Photo: Casalino, where the parish church of Valdantena 
